Lots of photos!

Huh, having trouble adding photos. Damn computer. Trying again...........
Hmm, not working. OK, so maybe tomorrow I will try loading more photos. Damn it!

Trial report!

We haven't done AKC in a while, maybe a month? Spur was very happy back at this site. It is very small and crowded and he loves it! Go figure! The 12" class was the biggest class this weekend, strangely enough. Sometimes at this location the 8" class is the biggest, but most times the 20" class is the biggest. Anyway, Spur broke 4 YPS in standard for a third place behind two national champs. :D His JWW he placed 2nd only to Jones, our 2nd place national champ. That felt good, but it wasn't the 5 yps we like, it was only 4.5 yps, but still a very nice run with four blinds. All blinds and that's how Spur likes it. Everyone ooded and ahhed about the blind before the weaves, but the blind in the opening was just the same. Everyone front crossed the opening turn, but that just caused people to go in between 2 and 3 and made their dogs jump 2 wide.

Fun day, done before 12, so we had a nice afternoon at home.

He is working it out!

Two days later we try again. Interesting!! He is working it out!! What you will see is he is figuring out a 2, 3, 2 pattern. His third hit on the top plank is nearly ON the second apex, but still this is a hit pattern with one less hit than he has done his WHOLE RDW career!!  He has had a consistent RDW his whole career and always a 2, 3, 3, pattern with the exception of a no speed start and then it will be 3, 3, 3. I trained him at home on a 10″ wide, sanded DW.
With this new 12″ wide, rubber planked DW he is obviously feeling more confident and finding a new speed! I actually think it is a more natural/comfortable pattern for him as he really had to adjust the other way. But, I probably am not going to see this pattern at trials and honestly I am not even sure what to do about it? I’ll be curious to see what Silvia says. Going the other direction on this new DW he sticks with his old pattern.

Happy Birthday Spur!!!

We guess today as his birthday and he is SIX!!!! He was very young when they seized the puppymill, so this is probably a pretty close date to guess. I can't believe he is SIX! I don't want him to get old! I mean, I like that he is maturing and all, but I want him young forever! Such an awesome little guy!!!

 Many of these below are from my friend Helen Peppe. Check out my website for an awesome photo session deal from her!! Or check her out here at www.hpeppe.com Great photographer!

 What a CUTE puppy!

 He found a feather!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPUR-MINATOR!!!!

Spur's interesting dog walk

He has had trouble going towards "nothing" on this new DW and with the curved tunnel under it. First, he is FLYING and tries to do it in 6 hits. His normal is 8! He does 2, 3, 3. 2 on the up, 3 on top, 3 on the down. He has to collect and adjust to do that. However, MY thought has always been that if he would just extend and run FASTER on the top he could do 2, 2, 3, but he never runs like that in a trial, so he is always in with 2, 3, 3. Silvia says that is fast enough, it is about 2 seconds, and not to push for speed. So, in these training sessions I just try to get him to work it out and get back his 2, 3, 3 footwork. You see him start with 2, 2, 2, then he collects on the top and puts in a 3rd, but it is often too late and then he can't hit with 2 on the down.

Interesting thing, going the other way toward the tunnel he hits every time, no problems.



Silvia is on vacation hiking, so when she returns I will see what she says. Glad to have slow motion video back. Splice was gone for a while, but seems to have returned. Yay! I have no other way to make slow motion on my iPad. There is no other program that I know of and my PC is too full to load an editing program on.

What did I do all weekend?

I watched agility on the computer. Live feed from Brussels, Belgium!! SO cool that we get to do that! Our friends were there running dogs, our on line instructor was there and other people I "know" were running dogs all weekend at the European Open. This year considered the World Event of agility because technically it is in South Africa this year and very few people want to go there for safety and long travel time. Dogs in planes for 18 hours doesn't sound good to ME, either!!

Here is one video, the team relay with Silvia my on line instructor from Slovenia running first. Watch all four dogs have SMOKIN' running dog walks! SO cool to see! Really cool dogs and very fun course! Not quite as technical as some we saw over the weekend. Enjoy!

How useful is venting?

Does it make one feel any better? Hmmm, not so sure. But, here goes because this is MY blog and I can VENT here!!

First thing...........on facebook twice in a week someone has posted photos of their dogs in a hotel room on the bed without a sheet from home to cover it. What the hell??? That is common etiquette when rooming with your dog, you bring a SHEET to cover the bed! Personally, I just bring my own comforter and then I don't have to worry about it. I just want to be the "fun police" and say something, but I never do. Come on people, cover the bed! We are lucky to be allowed to bring out dogs into our hotel room, let's make sure we do what we can to keep hotels allowing that and that means bringing a sheet and covering the bed!! One dog was on a WHITE comforter!! :O

Second thing..........this one is more benign and kind of silly, but I am a tweener. It makes me crazy. We have 1/2 sizes for rings and shoes, why not for clothing???? I am between sizes and it makes is SO hard shopping. I needed some shorts. I end up having to take both sizes of each item into the dressing room and try them both on. I hate shopping already and this just makes it even more irritating! Why not have half sizes?????

There, vented. Feeling better.